SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SOFT COVER ATTACHMENT
A softcover for an evacuation system may comprise a fabric panel. The fabric panel may define a plurality of apertures located proximate a first end of the first fabric panel. A plurality of straps may extend from a second end of the fabric panel. The straps may be configured to secure the fabric panel to a housing configured to receive an inflatable slide.
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This application is a divisional of, and claims priority to and the benefit of, U.S. application Ser. No. 16/029,464, filed Jul. 6, 2018, and titled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SOFT COVER ATTACHMENT,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
FIELDThe disclosure relates generally to aircraft evacuation systems and, more particularly, to systems and methods for softcover attachment.
BACKGROUNDEmergency evacuation systems may be used to exit an aircraft absent a jet way or other suitable means of egress for passengers. Off-wing evacuation systems may include a fabric retention device, often referred to as a “softcover,” that secures an evacuation slide within a storage container or packboard. The softcover may have two fabric panels attached to the packboard forming a lid over the evacuation slide. The fabric panels may be laced together such that release of the lacing allows the fabric panels to open and the evacuation slide to deploy. Current evacuation systems may attach the softcover to the packboard via a plurality of inserts configured to receive a screw or other type fastener. The inserts and fasteners can be time consuming to install and expensive to produce.
SUMMARYA softcover for an evacuation system is disclosed herein. In accordance with various embodiments the softcover may comprise a first fabric panel defining a plurality of first apertures located proximate a first end of the first fabric panel. One or more first straps may extend from a second end of the first fabric panel opposite the first end of the first fabric panel.
In various embodiments, the first straps may each be configured as a loop. In various embodiments, a plurality of brackets may be coupled to the one or more first straps.
In various embodiments, the one or more first straps may comprise a plurality of chords configured to form a daisy chain.
In various embodiments, the soft cover may further comprise a second fabric panel. The second fabric panel may define a plurality of second apertures located proximate a first end of the second fabric panel. One or more second straps may extend from a second end of the second fabric panel opposite the first end of the second fabric panel.
In various embodiments, the first straps may each comprise a first portion extending from the second end of the first fabric panel, and a second portion stitched to the first portion. An end of the second portion may be configured to extend away from the first portion.
An evacuation system is also disclosed herein. In accordance with various embodiments, the evacuation system may comprise a housing configured to receive an inflatable slide. The housing may define a first aperture. A softcover may be coupled to the housing. The softcover may comprise a first fabric panel. The first fabric panel may comprise first strap extending from a first end of the first fabric panel. The first strap may be located through the first aperture of the housing.
In various embodiments, a bracket may be coupled to the first strap. A length of the bracket may be less than a length of the first aperture, a width of the bracket may be greater than a width of the first aperture.
In various embodiments, a rod may be located through the first strap. In various embodiments, the first fabric panel may comprises a plurality of chords extending from the first end of the first fabric panel. The plurality of chords may include the first strap. The plurality of chords may be configured in a daisy chain.
In various embodiments, the softcover may further comprise a second fabric panel. The second fabric panel may comprise a second strap extending from a first end of the second fabric panel. The second strap may be located through a second aperture of the housing. A lace may couple the first fabric panel to the second fabric panel.
In various embodiments, the first strap may comprise a first portion extending through the first aperture of the housing, and a second portion stitched to the first portion. An end of the second portion may be disposed on an external surface of the housing.
A method of installing a softcover in an evacuation system is also disclosed herein. In accordance with various embodiments, the method may comprise disposing a first end of a first fabric panel proximate an internal surface of a housing configured to receive an inflatable slide. The first fabric panel may comprise a plurality of first straps extending from the first end of the first fabric panel. The method may further comprise locating the plurality of first straps through a plurality of first apertures defined by the housing, and securing the first straps to the housing.
In various embodiments, the first straps may each be configured as a loop, and securing the first straps to the housing may comprise locating a rod through the first straps.
In various embodiments, securing the first straps to the housing may comprise configuring the first straps in a daisy chain over an external surface of the housing, and coupling a shackle to a key loop of the daisy chain.
In various embodiments, the method may further comprise coupling a plurality of brackets to the plurality of first straps, and securing the first straps to the housing may comprise locating the plurality of brackets over an external surface of the housing.
In various embodiments, the first straps may each comprise a first portion extending from the first end of the first fabric panel, and a second portion attached to the first portion, and securing the first straps to the housing may comprise locating the second portion on an external surface of the housing.
In various embodiments, the method may further comprise disposing a first end of a second fabric panel proximate the internal surface of the housing, locating the plurality of second straps of the second fabric panel through a plurality of second apertures defined by the housing, and securing the plurality of second straps to the housing.
The forgoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated herein otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation of the disclosed embodiments will become more apparent in light of the following description and accompanying drawings.
The subject matter of the present disclosure is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. A more complete understanding of the present disclosures, however, may best be obtained by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements.
The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way of illustration. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical changes and adaptations in design and construction may be made in accordance with this disclosure and the teachings herein. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not limitation. The steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are not necessarily limited to the order presented.
Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one component or step may include a singular embodiment or step. Also, any reference to attached, fixed, connected, or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, full, and/or any other possible attachment option. Additionally, any reference to without contact (or similar phrases) may also include reduced contact or minimal contact.
Throughout the present disclosure, like reference numbers denote like elements. Accordingly, elements with like element numbering may be shown in the figures, but may not necessarily be repeated herein for the sake of clarity. Cross hatching lines and/or surface shading lines may be used throughout the figures to denote different parts but not necessarily to denote the same or different materials.
As used herein, “proximate” refers to a direction inward, or generally, towards the reference component.
Evacuation systems of the present disclosure may comprise a softcover configured to secure an inflatable slide within a housing. In various embodiments, the softcover may include one or more fabric panel(s) coupled the housing. The fabric panel(s) have a plurality of straps configured to be located through apertures in the housing. The softcover may be coupled to the housing by securing the first straps to the housing. The softcovers and installation methods as disclosed herein may decrease installation time and/or reduce manufacturing costs.
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Softcover 120 may include fabric panels 120a and 120b. A lace 124 may couple fabric panel 120a to fabric panel 120b, and close softcover 120 to retain inflatable slide 151. Lace 124 may be in configured in a daisy chain. For example, lace 124 may be configured in a series of loops with each loop extending (i.e., threaded) through a lace aperture 126 in fabric panels 120a and 120b and through an adjacent loop in the series. After a plurality of loops have been threaded together in this manner, a pin may close the daisy chain. In various embodiments, the pin may be slidably coupled to lace 124 such that lace 124 may unlace in response to a removal, or an uncoupling, of the pin from lace 124. In that regard, the pin may be located in a final or “key” loop to prevent lace 124 from unfurling, and pulling the pin out the key loop may release lace 124 and allow softcover 120 open (i.e., allow fabric panel 120a to separate from fabric panel 120b and release inflatable slide 151). In various embodiments, evacuation system 108 may include an actuator positioned to translate (i.e., pull) the pin and release inflatable slide 151.
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In various embodiments, housing 150 includes a plurality of apertures 152a formed proximate a top (or first end) 153 of housing 150, and a plurality of apertures 152b formed along a bottom (or second end) 155 of housing 150. Top 153 of housing 150 is oriented generally opposite bottom 155. Apertures 152a and 152b extend completely through housing 150. In this regard, apertures 152a and 152b extend from an external surface 154 of housing 150 to an internal surface 156 (with momentary reference to
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In various embodiments, straps 160a and 160b may be configured as loops. Stated differently, straps 160a may each define an opening 164a, and straps 160b may each define an opening 164b. Straps 160a and 160b may comprise rope, tape, ribbon, webbing, or any other type strap. Straps 160a and 160b may comprise nylon, ballistic nylon, polypropylene, polyester, cotton, or other suitable material.
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Securing the straps of fabric panels 120a and 120b to the housing decrease installation time for softcover 120 and/or reduce manufacturing costs of evacuation system.
Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of the disclosures.
The scope of the disclosures is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” Moreover, where a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, or C” is used in the claims, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. Different cross-hatching is used throughout the figures to denote different parts but not necessarily to denote the same or different materials.
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided herein. In the detailed description herein, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an example embodiment”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. After reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the disclosure in alternative embodiment
Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is intended to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” As used herein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.
Claims
1. A softcover for an evacuation system, comprising:
- a first fabric panel defining a plurality of first apertures located proximate a first end of the first fabric panel; and
- one or more first straps extending from a second end of the first fabric panel opposite the first end of the first fabric panel.
2. The softcover of claim 1, wherein the first straps are each configured as a loop.
3. The softcover of claim 2, further including a plurality of brackets coupled to the one or more first straps.
4. The softcover of claim 2, wherein the one or more first straps comprise a plurality of chords configured to form a daisy chain.
5. The softcover of claim 1, further comprising:
- a second fabric panel, the second fabric panel defining a plurality of second apertures located proximate a first end of the second fabric panel; and
- one or more second straps extending from a second end of the second fabric panel opposite the first end of the second fabric panel.
6. The softcover of claim 1, wherein the first straps each comprise:
- a first portion extending from the second end of the first fabric panel; and
- a second portion stitched to the first portion, wherein an end of the second portion is configured to extend away from the first portion.
7. A method of installing a softcover in an evacuation system, comprising:
- disposing a first end of a first fabric panel proximate an internal surface of a housing configured to receive an inflatable slide, wherein the first fabric panel comprises a plurality of first straps extending from the first end of the first fabric panel;
- locating the plurality of first straps through a plurality of first apertures defined by the housing; and
- securing the first straps to the housing.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first straps are each configured as a loop, and wherein securing the first straps to the housing comprises locating a rod through the first straps.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein securing the first straps to the housing comprises:
- configuring the first straps in a daisy chain over an external surface of the housing; and
- coupling a shackle to a key loop of the daisy chain.
10. The method of claim 7, further comprising coupling a plurality of brackets to the plurality of first straps, wherein securing the first straps to the housing comprises locating the plurality of brackets over an external surface of the housing.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein the first straps each comprise a first portion extending from the first end of the first fabric panel, and a second portion attached to the first portion, and wherein securing the first straps to the housing comprises locating the second portion on an external surface of the housing.
12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
- disposing a second fabric panel proximate the internal surface of the housing;
- locating a plurality of second straps of the second fabric panel through a plurality of second apertures defined by the housing; and
- securing the plurality of second straps to the housing.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 12, 2022
Publication Date: Dec 8, 2022
Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION (Charlotte, NC)
Inventors: Timothy C. Haynes (Prescott Valley, AZ), Drew Hartman (Phoenix, AZ)
Application Number: 17/886,916